Food held, cooled, cooked, or reheated outside safe temperatures, letting dangerous bacteria multiply.
Sewage or wastewater not disposed of properly — backups can contaminate the whole kitchen.
Food from an unapproved supplier, unsafe or spoiled food, missing shellfish harvest tags, or raw fish without required parasite destruction.
Hands not washed or gloves not changed when required, or employees eating, drinking, or smoking in food areas.
Cleaning chemicals or other toxic substances unlabeled or stored where they can reach food.
Handwash sink missing, blocked, or used for other purposes, or missing soap, towels, or the handwash sign.
Missing or expired food manager certification, or employee food-safety training not documented.
A sick or symptomatic employee present, or staff unaware of when illness bars them from working with food.
Food-contact or nonfood-contact surfaces improperly designed, constructed, maintained, or located.
Surfaces that touch food — cutting boards, ice bins, dish racks — soiled or not sanitized.
Floors, walls, ceilings, or attached equipment dirty, damaged, or poorly vented.
Plumbing not installed or maintained properly — leaks, mop sink issues, unserviced water filters, or missing backflow prevention.
Garbage overflowing or uncovered, or the premises not maintained.